Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has candidly described an attempt to perform her own theme song for her hugely popular Nineties talk show as “one of the mistakes” of her illustrious career. The track, titled “Run On”, was a reimagining of an old Black spiritual and served as a temporary theme for The Oprah Winfrey Show between 1998 and 1999.
The song and its accompanying video, which features Winfrey attempting dance moves alongside backing singers, has recently garnered significant online attention. This renewed virality is largely due to the re-emergence of archive footage showcasing the late pop superstar Whitney Houston playfully, yet persistently, mocking the song during several of her appearances on Winfrey’s programme.
During one memorable episode in 1999, Winfrey even joked with Houston that she had requested producers not to play the embarrassing theme song in anticipation of her guest’s arrival. Now, Winfrey has revisited the origins of “Run On” in a recent podcast interview with actor Keke Palmer, where Palmer herself lightly teased Winfrey by singing a line from the track.
“Girl, please,” Winfrey responded to Palmer, confirming, “That is one of the mistakes of my career.” She explained that the song came about during a period of reflection on the show’s future, stating she felt compelled to continue and chose the spiritual as inspiration. Despite taking singing lessons, Winfrey admitted, “we realised that I can’t sing,” and revealed attempts to mask her vocals with a loud church choir were ultimately unsuccessful.
The “Run On” theme lasted only a single season before being retired, though The Oprah Winfrey Show itself continued its highly successful run from 1986 until 2011. Beyond the musical interlude, Winfrey’s show became a cultural touchstone, exploring a wide array of topics from social issues and self-help to spirituality, and establishing a hugely impactful book club that shaped American culture for decades.